Mashonaland just shade honours

Midlands 82 for 4 (Ervine 14*) trail Mashonaland 277 (Taibu 73, Rainsford 4-36) by 195 runs
Scorecard

Under cloudless blue skies, but with a breeze to temper the heat, Mashonaland and Midlands fought closely throughout the day at Kwekwe Sports Club. Good bowling from Ed Rainsford, who took 4 for 36, was matched by a determined 73 from Tatenda Taibu, Mashonaland's captain, whose side looked in the stronger position at the close after capturing four Midlands wickets for 82 in response to their first-innings total of 277.

Alester Maregwede, Midlands' captain, put Mashonaland, the defending Logan Cup champions, in to bat after winning the toss, hoping that recent rain would leave the pitch damp underneath and help his seamers during the first hour. The ball did move, but there was no early breakthrough while Brendan Taylor held together the top order with a canny half-century. Barney Rogers, a returned rebel, looked in good form with 30 before running himself out, while the allrounder Cham Chibhabha scored 48 before hitting his own wicket.

Douglas Hondo bowled well to take two of the four wickets to fall before the close. He trapped Maregwede leg-before with the final ball of the day, and this tilted the balance of an otherwise even match towards Mashonaland.